Dallas week. A week of heightened tension and anger. For the Eagles, a win against the 2-5 Dallas Cowboys would give them a game and a half lead in the NFC Least. The Cowboys are reeling after the loss of Quarterback, Dak Prescott, and a boatload of injuries along the offensive line (sound familiar?). Yet while both teams gear up for another Sunday night showdown for the NFC East crown, the differences between the two teams could not be even more apparent. Whether it's through the front office or the way the teams are built, the Cowboys and Eagles are the mere antitheses of each other.
Front Office Style
The stark contrast between the two teams starts up top. The Eagles have been one of the most successful teams in the league since Jeffrey Lurie bought the team in 1994. 15 playoff appearances, six conference championship game appearances, with one Super Bowl title. Lurie does not actively talk to the media, only appearing for the end-of-year press conference.
Eagles GM, Howie Roseman is very similar. Only speaking to the media and fan base when a big free agent, draft, or end-of-year response is needed. While many question just how much power Howie Roseman does have, it pails in comparison to the King of Texas.
https://twitter.com/SlaterNFL/status/1200224474626502656?s=20
https://twitter.com/dallascowboys/status/1165622379306991618?s=20
https://twitter.com/JoriEpstein/status/1321086278906109967?s=20
Remember when Jerry said making the playoffs didn't matter as long as the ratings for Cowboys games were the highest in the NFL? It makes whatever Howie Roseman is doing look like he's just having ice cream with the team. Jerry named himself GM for the Cowboys the minute he bought the team in 1989, and while the three Super Bowls in the 90's were great. There's evidence to show that Jerry Jones is the main culprit for the Cowboys not getting to a conference championship in over 20 years.
Firing Jimmy Johnson after back-to-back Super Bowl titles, drafting Quincy Carter at QB, or even trading three draft picks for Roy Williams as a way to put the team over the top in 2008. How did that go again?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjbnRe_Bkl0
Oh yeah! Plain and simple, Jerry Jones is the Cowboys' worst enemy. While many people can highly criticize Howie Roseman for the roster deficiencies on the 2020 Eagles, he is nowhere near as bad as Jerry.
Continued on the page below.
Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire
Free Agency Strategy
This is probably the biggest difference between the two teams, especially since Howie Roseman regained the GM title in 2016. The philosophy in which each team attacks the off-season has been very different. Take a look at the free-agent signings, Dallas has made since 2016.
Cowboys Past Free Agency Moves
2016
Position Player Years in Dallas
RB Alfred Morris Two Years
DE Cedric Thornton One Year
DE Benson Mayowa Two Years
OL Joe Looney *Still on Team
2017
Position Player Years in Dallas
CB Nolan Carroll One Year
DL Stephen Paea One Year
OL Jonathan Cooper One Year
LB Justin Durant Two Years
2018
Position Player Years in Dallas
WR Allen Hurns One Year
WR Deonte Thompson One Year
OL Cameron Fleming Two Years
OL Marcus Martin One Year
LB Joe Thomas Two Years
2019
Position Player Years in Dallas
WR Randall Cobb One Year
TE Jason Witten One Year
DE Kerry Hyder One Year
DT Christian Covington One Year
You look down the list and only a couple really stand out. Only one of the free agent signings since 2016 is still on the roster.
The Eagles on the other hand have built their roster on free agent acquisitions and high price talent. Seriously, it's insane how much of the talent has come from free agency. Just take a look at some of the big signings of 2016 and 2017.
Eagles Past Free Agency Moves
2016
Position Player Still On Team?
S Rodney McLeod Yes – Captain
CB Leodis McKelvin No
OL Brandon Brooks Yes
LB Nigel Bradham No (SB Contributor)
2017
Position Player Still On Team?
QB Nick Foles No – SB MVP
WR Alshon Jeffery Yes
DE Chris Long No – SB Contributor
RB LeGarrette Blount No – SB Contributor
CB Patrick Robinson No – SB Contributor
The Eagles have built their roster off of free agent acquisitions. Couple in multiple off-season trades for the likes of top-of-the-mill talent, and the Eagles have built their roster off of bringing in already proven players to immediately fill in holes.
Drafting
The difference in drafting between the two teams is honestly pretty incredible. While the drafting of Derek Barnett in 2017 for the Eagles and Ceedee Lamb of the Cowboys in 2020 are the same thought process (best available player at a position the team doesn't really need), there are major differences.
Zeke & the RB Committee
https://twitter.com/Jason_OTC/status/1251649233301770242?s=20
Per Spotrac, Zeke is owed more than $15 million per year of his six-year - $90 million dollar deal signed in 2019. Add in the fact that the Eagles haven't drafted a RB in the first round since Keith Byars in 1986.
The Cowboys drafted Zeke Elliott with the fourth overall selection in 2016.
The Eagles don't value the RB position very much. The Cowboys have become dependent on one guy.
OL Strategy
Both offensive lines have been historically great. The Cowboys have drafted three All-Pro's and landed another Pro Bowl player on the OL as an Undrafted Free Agent. Despite this, the Cowboys have not really invested in the offensive line in the last six years. In fact, since 2014, the Cowboys have drafted only three offensive linemen.
The Eagles, on the other hand, have drafted six in the last four years already. The Eagles have valued the depth of the line more than the Cowboys, and it has shown itself why this season. While both offenses have dealt with issues along the line, the Eagles depth has greatly shown.
https://twitter.com/BaldyNFL/status/1319613525921353728?s=20
https://twitter.com/BaldyNFL/status/1318505558312423425?s=20
Gulp...Linebackers
This is one of the biggest differences between the two teams. The Cowboys have invested heavily at the LB position. Drafting Leighton Vander Esch, taking a flyer out an injured Jaylon Smith, or continuing to play Sean Lee, the Cowboys are all about top-talent linebackers.
The Eagles? Welp.....
https://twitter.com/Infante54/status/1315715010962894849?s=20
Quarterback
The Cowboys haven't drafted a QB in the first round since Quincy Carter. They've benefited from mid-round and undrafted talents that have developed into Pro Bowl Caliber players.
The Eagles are the creators of the famed label "QB Factory".
https://twitter.com/JimmyKempski/status/1254446103774322688?s=20
All jokes aside, the Eagles have invested heavily at the QB position, arguably more than any other team in the NFL. That has led to their first Lombardi Trophy and have been contenders in the modern game.
Overview
The Eagles and Cowboys have been the two most successful teams in the NFC East over the last decade. The Eagles are the only team of the two to have a championship on their belt.
While the teams match up for another NFC East deciding game this Sunday, it's clear that the difference between the two teams aren't just based on where their from: it's how they've been built to where each is now.
Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire
